We recently connected with Kevin Herdeman and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I can’t say for sure where my work ethic came from. I just know that if work is in front of me, I have to complete it no matter. I just work hard and fast so I can then move to something else.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I make mixed media paintings on glass. I use various materials on the reverse side of the glass as my “paint”. The outsides are enamel on the top side. I paint a background and the frame the glass is going in at the same time to make one seamless piece. When the “painting” is finished on the glass, I assemble it all. I’ve been “painting” this way for about 20yrs now. About 12yrs ago I started making what I call “MeltMonsters” which are basically sculptures made by strategically melting and layering soft plastic. I had fur to some which I call “SasquatchMelts”. Along with art, I make a lot of music as well. I make/record/release music by myself under the name, Ancient Radiations. I also play guitar in a noisy rock band called HUVR and bass in a punk rock band called Murder. I try to not limit myself when it comes to art but I do have a style that works so I’ve stuck with it a while now. If I want to try other things though, I will not hesitate all the while continuing to make my “normal” style of art and/or music.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As for knowledge, everything I’ve done art/music- wise has been basically continuous trail and error. I’ve had no real schooling for either. I just make what I want to see or hear and try to be as sincere as I can when I do so. I’d always recommend that to anyone making anything. Do what you like, work hard at it and refine it till you can do it in your sleep. Try new things if what you’ve been doing becomes stale. Try not to limit yourself in any way when it comes to making art. Enjoy art and look at a lot of it. Grab things from everything you like and develop your own style. John waters said it best, Technique is just failed style” with that in mind, blatantly ripping off other artists is something I’d strongly recommend not doing. That never ends well.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Anyone that has bought art from me over the years or who has listened to music I’ve made or watched a band I was in or asked me to make art for their band or company has been most helpful to me in becoming successful. That’s who helps me want to make more art and build knowledge. Success is a funny thing though for me. Who’s to measure that or say if you are or are not successful? For me, I feel the second someone buys that second or third painting or sculpture and adds it to their collection is the definition of success. That’s when I’ve felt like “ok, cool… people just might dig what I do…”. Art is also in the eye of the beholder. If you make what you want and not what you think “people” want, it’ll stand out and in turn you’ll be successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Kevinherdeman.com
- Instagram: StaticFromSpace
- Facebook: Kevin Herdeman
- Youtube: AncientRadiations
- Other: HUVR on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, etc. Ancient Radiations on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, etc. Murder on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, etc.
